Earlier this year, I had the privilege of dancing at a techno contra dance party where Phase X (Christopher Jacoby and Ross Harriss) played an eclectic mix of live and recorded sounds, featuring saxophone heavily and a room with lights coordinated to the tunes. I caught up with them and talked to them about their particular breed of livetronica, blending genres, and some of their upcoming dates, both with Phase X and their more traditional projects. "I've been performing chamber music (various bands, orchestras, and choral groups) my whole life, but contra dances since March of 2008," says Christopher.Ross adds, "I started playing music in my elementary school band program after my parents brutally forced me to learn an instrument. I think they were getting concerned when they realized I was spending the majority of my afternoons watching old episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus."They continue, "We were asked to provide electronic music for a late-night contra dance slot at Head for the Hills, Princeton Country Dancers' annual getaway weekend in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania, and given the success of that event, we decided to form a band."

In the interest of keeping my New Year’s resolution (and indulging my inner dance gypsy), I headed to Pennsylvania last weekend for a friend’s birthday party techno contra where the recently-formed duo Phase X (Ross Harriss and Christopher Jacoby of acoustic contra dance band Last Exit, among others) were wrapping up a mini-tour of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I had heard good things from my local friends about their gigs the previous week, and so was excited to hear what could be done with a computer/synth and a saxophone.

Although the concept of live music mixed with prerecorded sounds invites comparison to Firecloud, I would say that that is where the comparison points end. Phase X draws from a really wide variety of sources in pop culture (movie scores are particularly notable) and adds not only the saxophone but coordinates a light show to go with the music’s phrasing. While I did find that I missed the sound of a fiddle a little (which is common to a lot of contra dance bands, acoustic or electronically-infused), the saxophone playing and the innovation behind the sources of the prerecorded music was epic and very eclectic (Pirates of the Caribbean’s theme, anyone? Eiffel 65’s “Blue?” Cascada’s “Evacuate the Dancefloor?” All in one afternoon?). Not bad for a couple of guys in tuxes and EL wire! While Phase X does still seem to be working out some rough points (the transitions between prerecorded tunes seemed a bit sudden at times at the gig I went to, and at times the saxophone got drowned out and I couldn’t tell whether that was intentional) but they do pack a rollicking good time and keep the energy in the room sky-high. They seem to have a really good hold on neat and interesting things to add to the crossover contra mix, and I am looking forward to watching them develop their sound further.

This project has concluded as of mid-2013 (with an epilogue posted mid-2016) but we hope to see you soon on a contra dance floor! Meanwhile, head over to our Facebook page for upcoming techno contra events and other items of interest.

Author

I dance with abandon. I play with glowsticks. I look for music that is conducive to one or both. I play behind cameras. I write about all of the above. I'm based in Glen Echo's contra dance community outside of Washington, D.C., but I'm happy to go dance afield when I can. Lather, rinse, repeat. Always repeat.